Verification and Certification | OTAota.comThe organic certification process was defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is monitored by the National Organic Program (NOP). Organic Certification is designed to certify every step of the organic chain, in strict accordance with NOP guidelines.

"Given these factors, it's no longer a choice, but rather, an imperative, that we shift the "faster, cheaper, more" mentality pervasive in fashion houses and held by consumers toward a more sustainable and slower model for fashion--one that measures the "True Cost" to people and the planet instead of defining success solely by bottom line profits or ownership of a new disposable outfit every day." -Marci Zaroff

Slowing Down Fashionwww.huffingtonpost.comby guest blogger Marci Zaroff, ecofashion pioneer, founder of Under the Canopy, and president of Portico Brands "Be the change you wish to see in the world." -- Gandhi Over the past two

Weighing The Costs of Not Eating Organicvancouverhealthcoach.comWhy does eating organic remain on the periphery of North American food production and consumption? And what can we as a consumer do about it?

Seventy-five percent of all crops grown for human consumption rely on pollinators, predominantly bees, for a successful harvest. But over the last decade, both native and honey bee populations have been declining at alarming rates, raising concerns about the impact on our global food security.

DYK Organic farming alleviates many threats to pollinators, and organic farms support significantly more pollinators than conventional farms?

Learn more and join the conversation during our #BeeOrganic Twitter Party on Thursday, June 18 at 5pm EST.

Are You Paying Too Much For Organic Food?civileats.comMost people buy organic to avoid pesticides, antibiotics, and GMOs, and to support environmentally friendly growing practices. Now you can add helping farmers make a living to the list. According to a study published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), organic agricu…

Why You Should Only Buy Organic Strawberrieswww.huffingtonpost.comStrawberries, in one form or another, get chopped into salads, splashed into cocktails and smeared across toast even though they're grown with more pesticides than most other crops. It's currently

Are You Paying Too Much For Organic Food?civileats.comMost people buy organic to avoid pesticides, antibiotics, and GMOs, and to support environmentally friendly growing practices. Now you can add helping farmers make a living to the list. According to a study published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), organic agricu…

Systemic pesticides aren't on your food -- they're in itwww.huffingtonpost.caThe flourishing organic farm movement in North America proves that we can grow food economically and sustainably without resorting to an accelerating chemical arms race. Systemic pesticides are causing harm to our environment on a massive scale. We don't need them. There is no conclusive evidence th…

"CEO Brian Cornell, who was hired in August 2014 in part to stimulate Target's floundering food sales, recently gathered representatives from major prepackaged- food companies like General Mills, Campbell's, and Kraft Foods to inform them that their products wouldn't be occupying the same prime shelf space that they used to. This is all part of Target's new strategy to promote healthier, fresher options—to appeal to a younger, more health-conscious, organic-prone consumer base."